Tools of Navigation

It was a grey winter day when I visited the grounds of Parliament in Wellington earlier this year but that only accentuated the wonderful contrast between the bright green grass and this marvellous sculpture, "Kaiwhakatere - The Navigator" by Maori artist, Brett Graham.

Graham is one of New Zealand's most exciting sculptors, well known for his ability to engage in a "dual dialogue of Maori and European histories, at the same time adhering to the Modernist emphasis on form and material quality." Although not overtly Maori in their sculptural traditions, his works invariably draw on ancestral traditions and philosophies.

Although this work was only presented to the city in 2000, there's a lovely sense of the ancient about it - all those tightly packed granite cobblestones carrying the secrets and messages of another time. It's as if visitors from another world have left a strange and provoking souvenir of their visit among the shiny modern highrise.

The sculptures are based on the traditional tools of navigation - "Throughout Polynesia, the navigator is exalted as pathfinder and innovator for visionary qualities necessary for discerning leadershop," says Graham. The granite shapes represent a bird's head (manu), a waka (canoe) and a tuahu (altar). "The bird's head guides the traveller. It is a symbol of our inheritance in this land and of the future and the paths we may follow. The waka, or crescent moon shape symbolises a hopeful new beginning. The canoe suggests embarking on a journey, as did our ancestors, Maori and Pakeha. The tuahu, an altar of stones, built on arrival in a new land, suggests promises and challenges." (www.sculpture.org.nz)

Although stunning in its own right, I think the placement of this work is a major contributor to its power. It straddles the bright green hillocks of the parliament grounds confidently - like some ancient reminder to those in the 'halls of power' that soar above it, those 'navigating our future', that we are never far from our past.... no matter how much we would like to pretend otherwise.

Ngati Poneke - The Face of Wellington

Ngati Poneke

The Face of Wellington

Museum of Wellington

City to Sea

www.museumswellington.org.nz

A Wellington Sculpture

I came upon these pou whenua, by Maori sculptor, Ra Vincent, when I was walking in front of Parliament on my way to the NZ Archives building last week. I was in a hurry, hence my short-cut of photographing the sculpture notes rather than noting them in my book. But the message is the same and sometimes it's quite nice to see the actual plaque.

I think they make a strong and visually interesting statement on the patch of land in front of the Beehive on one side and the Old Government Buildings on the other.

Saved from the Wreckage

I visited Wellington's Museum of Wellington a couple of days ago and found it to be a very well designed and beautifully presented little museum - not that it was my first visit; this more a reiteration of my enjoyment of the small, intimate displays, the painting/mural entitled "Wahine" by James Turkington (1966), that was recovered from the wreckage of the vessel Wahine, that sank off the Wellington coast in 1968. It's part of the museum's very moving Wahine Gallery, which is a memorial to the Cook Strait tragedy. Although this mural had only been submerged for a few months before it was recovered, it was already encrusted with barnacles and small mussels. After cleaning and restoration though, only a few near-invisible scars remain on the formica surface. www.museumofwellington.co.nz

Maori Place Names - 51

Lower Hutt, Wellington

North Island.

April 2009 Ajr

Searching for Tangaroa

Leading Maori sculptor, Brett Graham (Ngati Koroki Kahukura), opens his Wellington exhibition ‘Searching for Tangaroa’ at Bartley & Company Art tomorrow night, October 6th. It’s his first show in the capital for a number of years – though many Wellingtonians will be familiar with his large public sculpture, Kaiwhakatere, which sits behind Parliament Buildings on Bowen Street. Graham has exhibited extensively – nationally and internationally – over the last decade and he is highly regarded as one of the most exciting and accomplished contemporary Maori sculptors. Although many of his works are not overtly Maori, they are the product of Graham’s interest in “a dual dialogue of Maori and European histories, adhering to the Modernist emphasis on form and material quality.” His concepts and titles though, invariably draw on his Maori heritage. The small illustration here (courtesy of bartley & company art) shows sculptural detail from work in his upcoming Wellington exhibition – a solo show that reflects Graham’s ongoing fascination with water as a cultural site. Searching for Tangaroa explores the convergence of ancient and contemporary beliefs and technologies. He employs high-tech underwater scanners in a mythical quest for the location of Hui te anga nui, the house of the god of the sea and the original site of the carving. As a metaphor for the human search for meaning, the scanners reference a range of issues from the foreshore and seabed act to values systems and religions. Graham has also collaborated with fellow Maori artist, Rachael Rakena, who I featured here a couple of weeks ago. Their collaborative works (Aniwaniwa and UFOB) have attracted significant international attention and have been shown at both the Venice and Sydney Biennales. www.brettgraham.co.nz www.bartleyandcompany.co.nz

Museum Glass

Wellington April 2009 Ajr

Another section of glass etched with traditional Maori designs

at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington
www.tepapa.govt.nz

If you click on Museum of New Zealand in the label line below this post, you'll be able to see other examples of this beautiful etched glass that marries so perfectly with the architecture.

A Reminder - Maori Performance Live Online

Image courtesy Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa Tongarewa

Following my earlier posts about Te Marae at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, here’s a reminder about the live online Maori cultural performance this weekend - you’ll be able to see part of the museum’s Matariki Festival closing online, whether you’re in Wanganui, Warsaw or Washington. Using the power of TelstraClear’s Next IP Network, around 300 senior Maori performing artists will get to perform in front of a worldwide audience on the weekend of July 11 and 12. Kaumatua Kapa Haka is one of the highlights of Te Papa’s Matariki festival and for the first time, it will be webcast live online at www.tepapa.govt.nz/kapahaka.
Ngati Porou performers
Many of the performers gathering at Te Papa for Kaumatua Kapa Haka have been learning Maori performing arts since they were young children and the oldest member amongst the groups is 93 years old. They’ll be performing some classic wiata (songs) by 20th century composers like Tuini Ngawai, Sir Apirana Ngata and Kohine Ponika
Both images courtesy Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa Tongarewa
The eight groups performing are the Auckland Anglican Maori Club (Auckland); Te Whanau a Kohine Ponika (Auckland/Bay of Plenty); He Kura ki Waikato (Waikato); Te Hokowhitua Tu (Gisborne); Taranaki ki te Tonga (South Taranaki); Ngati Kahungunu (Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa), Te Ropu Tahiwi a Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington); and Te Wiwi Nati (Wellington). The performances will be held on Saturday July 11, from 10:30am to 3.30pm NZ time and from 10am on Sunday July 12. You can find updates about the event on Te Papa’s Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/; and you can learn more about senior Maori performing arts at www.kaumatuakapahaka.com www.tepapa.govt.nz Don't forget to tune in!

Bridging the Gap

Wellington. April 2009. Ajr

Although I've used this photo in the past (smaller), I'm revisiting it. I was trawling through photographs yesterday trying to decide what to run with this morning and this one leapt out at me. It's part of the City to Sea Bridge in inner city Wellington, which was created by Hawke's Bay Maori artist, Para Matchitt in 1993. If you click on City to Sea Bridge in the label line below, you'll be able to read more about it and see more of the stunning sculptures that make it stand out in a city of highrise and glass.

Traditional Designs - 8

Etched Glass Graphics

At

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Wellington. April 2009. Ajr

www.tepapa.govt.nz

Museum Graphics

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington. April 2009. Ajr

I spent almost a full day in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington and I came away with fabulous books, photographs I loved and a head buzzing with visual and verbal stimulation. I love that the musem has such a strong visual focus, that it does everything possible to captivate its audience with colour, pattern and texture. I photographed these cool Maori graphics in the corridor that leads the way to the museum's contemporary Te Marae, a unique 21st century carved meetinghouse. www.tepapa.govt.nz.

Wall Designs

National Museum Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington. April 2009. Ajr

I loved this wall finish in the cafe at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. I suspect the design is derived from, or inspired by traditional Maori tukutuku panelling. www.tepapa.govt.nz

Capital Crafts

Beautiful Bone Heru

(combs)

Spotted in Wellington recently

Wellington Gallery

Wellington. April 2009 Ajr

When I was in Wellington recently I came upon this cool Maori gallery in Tory Street. Unfortunately it was closed at the time but I liked their doorway nonetheless. www.iwiart.co.nz

Cafe Culture

Wellington. April 2009. Ajr

I have a new favourite cafe in Wellington - Midnight Espresso in Cuba Street. It's a crazy little place open all hours. It's got great food, a really mixed crowd and this colourful Maori-inspired mural that swirls down one wall. It makes a refreshing change from designer chic!

Te Papa Carving

Te Papa, Wellington. April 2009. Ajr

This is the magnificent carving Waharoa (gateway) that greets you when you arrive on the first floor at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington. It was carved from a slab of totara measuring 6.6-metres long x 1.2-metres wide by Neke Kapua of Ngati Tarawhai iwi of the Arawa people and his sons Tene and Eramiha, especially for the New Zealand International Exhibition in Christchurch in 1906-07. It was part of a double stockade that enclosed the exhibition’s model pa, Arai-te-Uru. www.tepapa.govt.nz

More Matchitt

City to Sea Bridge, Wellington. April 2009 Ajr

Following on from Saturday’s images of Wellington’s City to Sea Bridge (scroll down), here are some close-ups of a number of the Para Matchitt sculptures that sit at the top of the bridge. “How We Got Here” is the theme of the gateway poles; and according to the nearby artist’s statement, “the celestial representations and symbols of love illustrate how our ancestors arrived in Aotearoa – as people are now arriving at the waterfront or crossing to the heart of the city.”

A Meeting of Cultures

A Spanish Flamenco Guitarist

Busking

Beneath the Maori sculpture on Wellington's Waterfront

April 2009. Ajr

City To Sea

City to Sea Bridge, Wellington. April 2009. Ajr

I don’t know how many times I’ve driven UNDER Wellington’s City to Sea Bridge but today, for the first time ever, I walked OVER it. I’ve always admired the glimpses I’ve had of Para Matchitt’s sculptures and now I can safely say, they’re even better up close. Matchitt, a Hawke’s Bay-based contemporary Maori artist, created the works in 1993. This is a detail of one of the wooden works. I’ll bring you the best of them here on Monday morning.

Bridge Art

One of the carved figures
By Hawke’s Bay-based Maori artist, Para Matchitt.
on Wellington's overhead
waterfront pedestrian walkway,
The City To Sea Bridge.